Furniture Cover with Strap

ABSTRACT

A cover is provided for covering a furniture item having a seat and a back. The cover has a seat portion configured to cover the seat of the furniture item. The seat portion has a width generally corresponding to a depth of the furniture item seat and a length transverse to the width. The cover has a back portion configured to cover the back of the furniture item. The cover back portion extends from the seat portion a distance greater than a height of the furniture item back. The cover back portion extends along a length of the seat portion with side edges of the back portion generally transverse to the seat portion length. The cover has a strap operatively connected to the cover and having a length sufficient to extend around the furniture item back. The strap operatively engages the back portion in attaching the cover to the furniture item.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.61/780,311, filed Mar. 13, 2013, currently pending, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to furniture covers and moreparticularly to furniture covers providing enhanced fit, furnitureprotection and a reduced need for repositioning.

Furniture covers can provide protection for furniture against wear, dirtand other contaminants. Additionally, furniture covers may provide animproved aesthetic appearance for a piece of furniture. Conventionalfurniture covers do not stay in position when people or pets sit or layon the furniture the furniture cover is disposed on, and as a result,the aesthetic appearance and protection the furniture cover provides isreduced. Therefore, conventional furniture covers must be frequentlyrepositioned to maintain a consistent aesthetic appearance andprotection benefits.

Accordingly, a need exists for improved furniture covers. This, andother needs, may be addressed by one or more aspects of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more preferred embodiments now will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same elements arereferred to with the same reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a furniture cover in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the furniture cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture on which thefurniture cover of FIG. 1 may be applied;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the furniture cover of FIG. 1applied to the piece of furniture of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the furniture cover of FIG. 1applied to the piece of furniture of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a furniture cover in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a detailed rear view of the furniture cover of FIG. 6 appliedto a piece of furniture;

FIG. 8 is a detailed front perspective view of a furniture cover in theprocess of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a detailed front perspective view of a furniture cover in theprocess of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a detailed side perspective view of a furniture cover in theprocess of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a detailed side perspective view of a furniture cover in theprocess of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a detailed front view of a furniture cover in the process ofbeing applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a furniture cover applied to apiece of furniture;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a furniture cover in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a side perspective view of the furniture cover of FIG. 14applied to a piece of furniture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, withreference to the drawings. The following description is merely exemplaryin nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, itsimplementations, or uses.

In embodiments of the present invention, a furniture cover is providedthat, while providing protection against wear, dirt and othercontaminants may also provide an aesthetic appearance to a piece offurniture. Many aspects and features of the present invention furtherrelate to functional enhancements to a furniture cover, includingfunctional enhancements to a furniture cover that provide for improvedtit, stability, and ease of application. Improved stability may reducethe need for repositioning the furniture cover even when people or petssit or lay on a piece of furniture to which it has been applied,allowing for a consistent aesthetic appearance and protection of thepiece of furniture.

Armed Furniture Cover Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 1-13, a piece of furniture 100 may be coveredwith a furniture cover 200. The piece of furniture 100 is an armed pieceof furniture, and as used herein, an armed piece of furniture refers toa piece of furniture that has a first arm 106 extending from a back 102on a first side 116 of the piece of furniture, a second arm 108extending from the back 102 on a second side 118, a seat 104 and a front110. The arms 106, 108 may extend from the back 102 to the front 110 ofthe piece of furniture. In one embodiment, the piece of armed furnituremay be a couch, sofa, bench, chair, or any other piece of furniture witha seat, back and arms.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a furniture cover 200 in accordance withone embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective viewof the furniture cover 200 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of apiece of furniture 100 on which the furniture cover of FIG. 1 may beapplied. FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the furniture cover 200 ofFIG. 1 applied to the piece of furniture 100 of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a rearperspective view of the furniture cover 200 of FIG. 1 applied to thepiece of furniture 100 of FIG. 3.

As seen in detail in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the furniture cover 200comprises a back covering portion 202, a first arm covering portion 206,a second arm covering portion 208, a seat covering portion 204, a frontcovering portion 210, and a strap 220. When the furniture cover 200 isapplied to the piece of furniture 100 the seat covering portion 204 isdisposed on the seat 104, the first arm covering portion 206 is disposedon the first arm 106, the second arm covering portion 208 is disposed onthe second arm 108, the back covering portion 202 is disposed on theback 102, and the front covering portion 210 is disposed on the front110.

The furniture cover further includes a first fastener 236 and a secondfastener 238 configured to attach the strap 220 to the back coveringportion 202. The strap includes a first fastener portion 226 and asecond fastener portion 228 configured to attach to the first fastener236 and the second fastener 238, respectively. The fasteners 206, 208may be a button, snap, buckle, zipper, hook-and-loop, or any othersuitable fastener, and the fastener portions 226, 228 may be theappropriate counterpart to the fasteners 206, 208. In one embodiment,the fasteners 206, 208 are buttons and the fastener portions 226, 228are button-holes. The strap 220 may be elasticized or adjustable toaccommodate backs 102 with different geometries. As best seen in FIGS. 4and 5, when the furniture cover 200 is applied to a piece of furniture100 the strap 220 wraps around the back 102 of the piece of furniture,and maintains the position of the furniture cover even when pets orpeople sit or lay on the piece of furniture to which the furniture coverhas been applied.

While the strap 220 is preferably removable from the back coveringportion 202, the strap may instead be more permanently attached to theback covering portion 202, for example via sewing.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the back covering portion202 of the furniture cover 200 includes a segment 212 that extends to acover a portion of the back 102 that is not adjacent to the seat 104.The strap 220 may be configured to wrap around both the back 102 and thesegment 212 that covers a portion of the back 102 non adjacent to theseat 104, holding the segment 212 in contact with the back 102. In thisembodiment, the strap 220 maintains the position of the back coveringportion 202 even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece offurniture to which the furniture cover has been applied.

The furniture cover 200 further includes a back flap 242, a first sideflap 246, and a second side flap 248. The back flap 242 extends downfrom a seam located at the junction of the back covering portion 202 andthe seat covering portion 204. The first side flap 246 extends down froma seam located at the junction of the first side covering portion 206and the seat covering portion 204. The second side flap 248 extends downfrom a seam located at the junction of the second side portion 208 andthe seat covering portion. The back flap 242, first side flap 246, andsecond side flap 248 may extend for a portion, or the entire length, ofthe corresponding seams located at the junction between the seat portionand the back covering portion 202, first side covering portion 206, andsecond side covering portion 208, respectively. The flaps 242, 246, 248are configured so that they may be placed in between segments of thepiece of furniture 100, thereby maintaining the position of thefurniture cover 200 even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece offurniture to which the furniture cover has been applied. In at least oneembodiment, the back flap 242, first side flap 246, and second side flap248 are placed between a cushion, or cushions, of the piece of furniture100 and the back 102, first arm 106, and second arm 108, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a furniture cover 200 that includes a loop250, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 7 is detailed rear perspective view of the furniture cover 200 ofFIG. 6 applied to a piece of furniture 100.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar to the embodimentdiscussed above, except that the furniture cover 200 further comprises aloop 250 attached to the back covering portion 202. When the furniturecover 200 is applied to the piece of furniture 100 a segment 212 of theback covering portion 202 extends to a cover a portion of the back 102that is not adjacent to the seat 104. The loop 250 is located on thesegment 212 of the back covering portion 202 that extends to a cover aportion of the back 102 that is not adjacent to the seat 104. In oneembodiment, the loop 250 is located at the edge of segment 212. Inanother embodiment there may be multiple loops attached to the backcovering portion 202.

As the detail in FIG. 7 shows, the strap 220 may pass through the loop250 when the furniture cover is applied to a piece of furniture 100. Thestrap 220 may apply a force to the loop 250 that is transferred to theback covering portion 202 producing tension therein. In this embodiment,the interaction of the strap 220 and loop 250 maintains the position ofthe back covering portion 202 even when pets or people sit or lay on thepiece of furniture to which the furniture cover has been applied.

FIGS. 8-11 show multiple steps in the process of applying the furniturecover 200 shown in FIG. 1, 2 or 6 to a piece of furniture 100, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8 thefurniture cover 200 is first centered on the seat 104 so that the backflap 242 is adjacent to the back 102. The back flap 242 is then tuckedor placed in to the area, or crevice, between the seat 104 and the back102, as shown in FIG. 9. The first side flap 246 is then positionedadjacent to the first arm 106, as shown in FIG. 10. The first side flap246 is then placed, or tucked, in to the area, or crevice, between theseat 104 and the first arm 106, as shown in FIG. 11. The process shownin FIGS. 10 and 11 is then repeated for the second arm flap 248. Thefirst arm covering portion 206 is then positioned over the first arm106, and the second arm covering portion 208 is positioned over thesecond arm 108, as shown in FIG. 12. The back covering portion 202 isthen positioned over the back 102, and the strap 220 is positionedaround the back 102, completing the application of the furniture cover200 to the piece of furniture 100, as shown in FIG. 13.

In at least one embodiment, the furniture cover may have a quiltedsurface, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Armless Furniture Cover Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an armless furniture cover 300, inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 isa side perspective view of the furniture cover 300 of FIG. 14 applied toa piece of furniture 100.

A piece of furniture may be covered with the furniture cover 300. In oneembodiment, the piece of furniture may be an armed piece of furniture100, as shown in FIG. 3 and discussed above. In another embodiment, thepiece of furniture may be an armless piece of furniture, and as usedherein, an armless piece of furniture refers to a piece of furniturethat has a back 102 and a seat 104, but does not have arms. In oneembodiment, the piece of armless furniture may be a bench, chair, futon,or any other piece of furniture with a seat and back but no arms.

As seen in detail in FIGS. 14 and 15, the furniture cover 300 comprisesa back covering portion 302, a seat covering portion 304, a frontcovering portion 310, and a strap 320. When the furniture cover 300 isapplied to the piece of furniture 100 the seat covering portion 304 isdisposed on the seat 104, the back covering portion 302 is disposed onthe back 102, and the front covering portion 310 is disposed on thefront 110.

The furniture cover further includes a first fastener 336 and a secondfastener 338 configured to attach the strap 320 to the back coveringportion 302. The strap includes a first fastener portion 326 and asecond fastener portion 328 configured to attach to the first fastener336 and the second fastener 338, respectively. The fasteners 306, 308may be a button, snap, buckle, zipper, hook-and-loop, or any othersuitable fastener, and the fastener portions 326, 328 may be theappropriate counterpart to the fasteners 306, 308. In at least oneembodiment, the fasteners 306, 308 are buttons and the correspondingfastener portions 326, 328 are button-holes. The strap 320 may beelasticized or adjustable to accommodate backs 102 with differentgeometries. As best seen in FIG. 15, when the furniture cover 300 isapplied to a piece of furniture 100 the strap 320 wraps around the back102 of the piece of furniture, and maintains the position of thefurniture cover even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece offurniture to which the furniture cover has been applied.

While the strap 320 is preferably removable from the back coveringportion 302, the strap may instead be more permanently attached to theback covering portion 302, for example via sewing.

The furniture may further comprise a loop 350 attached to the backcovering portion 302, as shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 15 shows an exemplaryembodiment in which the back covering portion 302 of the furniture cover300 includes a segment 312 that extends to a cover a portion of the back102 that is not adjacent to the seat 104. The loop 350 may be attachedto segment 312 of the back covering portion 302, and be configured tointeract with the strap 320 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 7. Inthis embodiment, the strap 320 maintains the position of the backcovering portion 302 even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece offurniture to which the furniture cover has been applied.

In another embodiment, the strap 320 may be configured to wrap aroundboth the back 102 and the segment 312 that covers a portion of the back102 not adjacent to the seat 104, forcing the segment 312 in to contactwith the back 102, in the same manner as show in FIG. 5.

In one embodiment, the furniture cover 300 may be reversible. In anotherembodiment, the furniture cover may have a quilted surface, in the samemanner as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily understood bythose persons skilled in the art that the present invention issusceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments andadaptations of the present invention other than those specificallydescribed herein, as well as many variations, modifications, andequivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggestedby the present invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, withoutdeparting from the substance or scope of the present invention.Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein indetail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary ofthe present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing afull and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosureis not intended to be construed to limit the present invention orotherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations,modifications or equivalent arrangements, the present invention beinglimited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cover for a furniture item, wherein thefurniture item has a seat and a back, wherein the seat has a depthgenerally corresponding to a distance from a front edge of the seat to arear edge of the seat, wherein the back has a height generallycorresponding to a distance from the rear edge of the seat to a top ofthe back, the cover comprising: a seat portion configured to cover theseat of the furniture item, the seat portion having a width generallycorresponding the furniture item seat depth and a length transverse tothe width; a back portion configured to cover the back of the furnitureitem, the cover back portion extending from the seat portion a distancegreater than the furniture item back height such that a distal end ofthe cover back portion depends from the top of the back of the furnitureitem when the cover is placed on the furniture item, the cover backportion extending along a length of the seat portion with side edges ofthe back portion generally transverse to the seat portion length; and astrap operatively connected to the cover and having a length sufficientto extend around the back of the furniture item from a lateral side ofthe cover to the opposite lateral side of the cover, the strapoperatively engaging the cover back portion in attaching the cover tothe furniture item.
 2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the strap isoperatively connected to the side edges of the back portion.
 3. Thecover of claim 1, wherein the strap is made from an elastic material. 4.The cover of claim 1, wherein the strap engages a portion of the coverback portion in attaching the cover to the furniture item.
 5. The coverof claim 1, wherein the cover back portion has a loop adjacent to itsdistal edge.
 6. The cover of claim 5, wherein the strap engages the loopin attaching the cover to the furniture item.
 7. The cover of claim 1,further comprising a flap extending along the seat portion lengthadjacent to the back portion.
 8. The cover of claim 1, furthercomprising an arm portion extending from the seat portion width.
 9. Thecover of claim 8, further comprising a flap extending along the seatportion width adjacent to the arm portion.
 10. The cover of claim 1,further comprising a front portion extending from the seat portionopposite the back portion.
 11. The cover of claim 1, wherein the strapis removably attachable to the cover.
 12. A cover for a furniture item,wherein the furniture item has a seat and a back, wherein the seathaving a depth generally corresponding to a distance from a front edgeof the seat to a rear edge of the seat, wherein the back having a heightgenerally corresponding to a distance from the rear edge of the seat toa top of the back, the cover comprising: a back portion configured tocover the back of the furniture item, the back portion having widthgreater than the furniture item back height such that a distal end ofthe cover back portion depends from the top of the back of the furnitureitem when the cover is placed on the furniture item, the back portionhaving a length transverse to the back portion width; a seat portionconfigured to cover the seat of the furniture item, the seat portionextending from the back portion along a length of the back portion withside edges of the seat portion generally transverse to the back portionlength; and a strap operatively connected to the cover and having alength sufficient to extend around the back of the furniture item from alateral side of the cover to the opposite lateral side of the cover, thestrap operatively engaging the cover back portion in attaching the coverto the furniture item.
 13. The cover of claim 12, wherein the strap isoperatively connected to side edges of the back portion.
 14. The coverof claim 12, wherein the strap is made from an elastic material.
 15. Thecover of claim 12, wherein the strap engages a portion of the cover backportion in attaching the cover to the furniture item.
 16. The cover ofclaim 12, wherein the cover back portion has a loop adjacent to itsdistal edge.
 17. The cover of claim 16, wherein the strap engages theloop in attaching the cover to the furniture item.
 18. The cover ofclaim 12, further comprising a flap extending along the back portionlength adjacent to the seat portion.
 19. The cover of claim 12, furthercomprising an arm portion extending from one of the seat portion sideedges.
 20. The cover of claim 19, further comprising a flap extendingalong the seat portion side edge adjacent to the arm portion.
 21. Thecover of claim 12, further comprising a front portion extending from theseat portion opposite the back portion.
 22. The cover of claim 12,wherein the strap is removably attachable to the cover.